Browse People:

Browse Lists:

Archer, Daniel Lancelot (Lance) (1878–1933)

Mr. Daniel Lancelot Archer, a well known Tasmanian sportsman and big game hunter, died at his residence, "Longford Hall," Longford, yesterday afternoon. He was 56 years of age, and had been ill with heart ailments for about five weeks.

The late Mr. Archer was the eldest son of Mr. Daniel Archer, of Longford Hall, Longford, and was born at Woodside, Cressy, in 1878. He was educated at Horton College, Ross, and tutored privately by Mr. W. W. Fox, M.A., of St. Leonards, after which he went to Longford Hall, where he remained until 1898, when he took over the management of Douglas Park estate, Campbell Town, for his father. In 1912 the property was sold to Mr. W. A. Jones. In the same year Mr. Archer bought Venwood, Ross, where he resided until 1922, when he leased the property to Mr. F. Dowling, who purchased it outright in 1928. He then bought Tolarno, St. Leonards, and resided there until November, 1931, when it was sold to Mr. R. C. Field. Subsequently Mr. Archer returned to Longford, where he resided up to the time of his death. In 1928 he purchased Thorpe, Dilston, which estate is now held by his only son, Mr. Daniel Archer. The late Mr. Archer was twice married. His first wife, Miss Jessie Headlam, daughter of Mr. Robert Headlam, of Vaucluse, Epping, died in 1928. There is a family of one son and twin daughters, the latter being Mrs. F. C. Youl, of Symmons Plains, and Mrs. Trevor B. Brownrigg of Launceston. Mr. Archer's second wife, whom he married about 15 months ago, was Miss Beatrice Olive Bayles, of the well known St. Leonards family. Mr. Archer, in addition to his racing activities, was well known as a heavyweight amateur boxer in former years, and was a keen rifleman, having won numerous prizes for his marksmanship.

On three occasions, 1922, 1924, and 1926, Mr. Archer visited Africa for big game hunting, principally in North Eastern Rhodesia, Belgian Congo, and Tanganyika. During his expeditions he obtained all the most dangerous animals, and most of the other types to be found in that continent. He brought back with him on each occasion many fine animal heads, skins, and other trophies of the hunt. His 1924 expedition was the most successful. On the Lobu River, Tanganylka, about 16 years before, the dreaded tsetse fly was so prevalent that the Government ordered all people, white and black, to leave the territory, and a ban was placed on the area. Mr. Archer arrived there just after the ban was lifted, when it was discovered that the fly had ceased to be a menace. The game, which had been undisturbed for 16 years, had flourished. Mr. Archer was thus able to hunt and shoot some very fine specimens of wild animals, including elephants, buffaloes, rhinoceros, hippopotami, lions, tigers, leopards, and others. Mr. Archer was a keen collector of firearms, and had one of the finest collections in the Commonwealth.

The late Mr. Archer was keenly interested in racing, and in hunters and hacks. He was a good judge of the latter type, and frequently acted as judge in the show rings in Tasmania.

In recent years Mr. Archer had been associated with the racing clubs in Launceston. He was elected a member of the committee of the Newnham Club in 1929, and after three years he resigned to become a member of the committee of the Tasmanian Turf Club and occupied that position since. He was also president of the Newnham Racing Club, and in that capacity took a close interest in its welfare. Mr. Archer raced some horses, including Yeld. Mr. Archer was highly esteemed in sporting circles, and his death will be regretted by a wide circle of friends throughout the state.